Donors' generosity allows diocese to plan for future

By Kenny Keane, Globe staff reporter
Posted November 21, 2002

Most people who donate money to a cause want to know where their money is going and how it will be used. The consensus of those who gave generously to the Centennial Campaign for Excellence seems to be that their donations are being used where they want it and how they want it.

"I liked the idea of where the gifts were going for the diocese," said Msgr. Mervin Hood, a retired priest living in Fort Dodge. "They're helping the schools, they're helping Catholic Charities and the migrants coming in. They were also very good for catechetical work getting out because this is certainly the century of the lay people coming around and taking a proper role in educating the people of the diocese."

The proper role for certain lay people in the diocese was that of generous donor during this campaign. One such donor was Alan Burke, a parishioner at St. Mary Church in Hawarden, who said he liked the perpetual nature of the campaign.

"It addressed the needs of the diocese going forward the next number of years," Burke said. "I liked the idea of the endowment where this money was going into a fund, and the interest off that fund would address the needs of the diocese for a long time. I liked where the money was going and that I could direct some of that money to a specific parish that I was aware of that needed money badly."

The fact that a portion of the money donated to the campaign would benefit Catholic Charities was the main reason that Gus Schroeder and his wife, both members of St. Joseph Church in Wall Lake, gave generously to the campaign.

"We've been a pretty big donator to Catholic Charities for a number of years," he said. "We adopted our two daughters through Catholic Charities. So we've always had a pretty soft spot for them."

However, Schroeder said another big factor is providing for the future of Catholic education.

"That's a vital part of our being. We definitely have to contribute to that," he said. "The cost of operating schools is getting higher and higher every year, and if we don't have something in the line of an endowment or something of that nature, how will it continue to carry on?"

The pastor of St. Joseph Church in Granville, Msgr. Kenneth Seifried, also commented that everything in society keeps going up with increase in costs, but he said the people in his community understand very well the importance of Catholic education.

"I think we've probably seen more and more the value of Catholic education," he said. "I think they see the need when they see all the different problems in our society. They just understand the needs, and the people around here make the sacrifice.

"I think the people around here do not really have expensive homes and don't drive expensive cars, but they're really supportive of their church and school. They've always had a great tradition of that."

Msgr. Seifried said he enjoyed the experience he had during the campaign going out to about 40 homes and meeting with people who he said were all very supportive and very kind.

"Even if they didn't give to this campaign, I think it helped that they gave maybe even directly to the school," he said. "I think everyone felt a need somewhere to dedicate it to the campaign itself, but a lot of folks said, 'Well maybe we can't give here, but we can increase our donation to the school itself.' I had a good time, and it was even a missionary type of experience on my part."

Overall, Msgr. Hood said he thought the campaign was very successful with a lot of positive aspects.

"I always think that the need of people to give is always present," he said. "Sometimes I suppose you have to present something that would be very appealing, and I think this is appealing. Sometimes any collection is not appealing to anyone. I think it's sad to say that because there is a great need and joy in giving."

Burke said he was happy to give to the overall needs of the diocese.

"I think we need to look at the long-term needs of our diocese and plan ahead," he said. "For me it was just good to give on a diocesan level. There's a real need there, and I'm always looking for places where I think my charitable contributions can be put to good use."